The conversations you have with an AI companion can be more personal than almost anything you share digitally. You might talk about fears, relationships, mental health, sexuality, grief, failures — the inner territory you keep close. That intimacy is valuable. It also means privacy isn't a minor consideration — it's central to whether the experience is safe in a meaningful sense.
This guide walks through what you actually need to know, what questions to ask of any platform you use, and how to evaluate the answers.
What AI Companion Platforms Typically Collect
Understanding what data you're sharing starts with knowing what's typically collected:
- Conversation content: The text of your conversations — the most sensitive category.
- Usage data: When you use the app, how long, what features you engage with.
- Device and account information: Standard account data plus device identifiers.
- Derived data: Inferences the platform draws from your usage — mood patterns, interests, behavioral tendencies.
The question is what each of these is used for: training AI models, improving personalization, advertising targeting, or some combination. The answer varies dramatically by platform, and it matters.
The Questions That Matter
Before trusting any platform with deeply personal conversations, get clear answers to these:
Is my conversation data used to train AI models? Many platforms use anonymized conversation data to improve their models. This may be acceptable to you, but you should know. Look for explicit language about whether your conversations contribute to training data and whether you can opt out.
Who can access my conversations? Are conversations reviewed by human moderators? Under what circumstances? What are the access controls?
Can I delete my data? You should be able to delete your conversation history and your account data completely. The platform should have a clear process and actually execute it within a reasonable timeframe.
Can I export my conversations? Your conversation history represents a record of your own experience and reflection. You should be able to export it.
Is data encrypted? Conversations should be encrypted in transit (HTTPS) and at rest. Ask for explicit confirmation of encryption standards.
Are conversations shared with third parties? Advertising partnerships, data brokers, research institutions. Who can see your data beyond the platform itself?
Reading Privacy Policies That Actually Tell You Something
Privacy policies are famously impenetrable, but there are specific things to look for. Good privacy policies are specific about what data is collected and why. They name third parties they share with. They clearly describe your rights — access, deletion, export. They explain how long data is retained. They describe what happens to your data if the company is acquired or shuts down.
Red flags include: vague language about "improving services" without specifics, missing information about data sharing, no mention of user rights, no clear contact for privacy concerns. Mozilla's Privacy Not Included project offers independent evaluations of AI app privacy practices worth consulting (Mozilla Foundation).
Regulatory Context
Privacy regulation for AI companions is increasing. The EU's GDPR gives European users specific rights — access, deletion, portability, objection — that platforms operating in Europe must respect. The EU AI Act adds additional requirements for systems operating in emotional contexts. California's CPRA gives similar rights to California residents. If you're in these jurisdictions, you have legal rights that platforms must honor.
Even outside these jurisdictions, reputable platforms extend similar protections voluntarily because it's the right approach and because the global direction of regulation is clearly toward stronger privacy protection.
Keoria's Approach
We'll be transparent about our own practices: Keoria encrypts conversation data in transit and at rest. We do not sell conversation data to advertisers or data brokers. Users can request data export and full account deletion. We use aggregated, anonymized usage patterns to improve our systems; we do not use individual conversation content for advertising targeting. Our privacy policy is written in plain language, not legalese.
If you have questions about our privacy practices that this guide doesn't answer, reach out directly — we'd rather answer questions than have users make decisions with incomplete information.
For a broader picture of what distinguishes responsible platforms, our piece on the ethics of AI emotional attachment covers the principles we think all platforms should operate by. And when you're ready to talk with someone who takes your privacy seriously, Keoria is here.
📚 Research & Further Reading
🔐 Your privacy matters to us
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Start Safely at Keoria →Written by The Keoria Team
Published: February 3, 2026
The Keoria team takes privacy seriously as a fundamental design principle, not a compliance checkbox. Explore all our guides →